54 | DECEMBER 1 • 2022 

SPOTLIGHT

Temple Israel Executive 
Director Jason Plotkin was 
recognized by the National 
Association for Temple 
Administration (NATA) with 
“Senior Member” status at 
its conference held in early 
November in Clearwater, 
Florida. 
Plotkin is the first Metro 
Detroit executive director to 
achieve this status.
This designation by the 
professional organization 
representing executive 
directors and temple 
administrators across 
North America reflects a 
combination of Plotkin’s years 
in synagogue administration 
and completion of synagogue 
management course work, 
exams in six areas of 
study: Human Resources, 
Techniques & Tools of 
Synagogue Management, 
Budgeting & Finance, 
Governance, Membership 
and Marketing.
Keynote speakers at the 
conference included Detroit 
native Dr. Alonzo Kelly, 
who addressed the nearly 
200 attendees on “The Art 
of Leading Change” and 
“The Art of Asking Better 
Questions.” Other topics 
included conversation around 
being an inclusive synagogue, 
maximizing staffing structure 
and integrating technology 
into the synagogue space.
“These professional 
conferences are truly one 
of the highlights of the 
calendar year for synagogue 

administrators,” Plotkin 
said. “Not only do we get a 
chance to learn from leading 
contributors in the nonprofit 
space, it also affords executive 
directors an opportunity to 
get a glimpse into current 
trends and best practices 
from a wide range of 
synagogues.”
In January, Plotkin, 
alongside Temple Israel vice 
president Andy Bocknek and 
Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny, will 
be attending the Union for 
Reform Judaism-hosted Large 
Congregation gathering. The 
gathering is made up of teams 
from roughly 60 Reform 
congregations with over 1,000 
families.
A native of Houston, Texas, 
Plotkin arrived on the scene 
at Temple Israel in early June 
following an eight-plus year 
run at Congregation Emanu 
El in Houston. A former 
member of the URJ North 
American Board and past 
president of the Program & 
Engagement Professionals of 
Reform Judaism (PEP-RJ), 
Plotkin is married to the 
former Aliza Herman, and 
the couple has a 7-year old 
son, Isaac. 

Temple Israel 
Executive Director 
Earns ‘Senior 
Member’ Status 
from NATA

Jason Plotkin alongside 
outgoing NATA President Jack 
Feldman of Temple Sinai in 
Atlanta

JCRC/AJC Hosts Archbishop 
Allen Vigneron

SAM DUBIN JCRC/AJC ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

The Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC met with 
Archbishop Allen Vigneron of the Detroit Archdiocese earlier 
this month. The intimate lunch meeting covered an array of 
shared priorities, including the need to combat antisemitism 
and a path forward for immigration reform. 
The archbishop expressed his steadfast support for the 
Jewish community and used the lunch as a listening session 
to understand the root of antisemitism and the practical 
implications of what that means for our modern world. He 
was also interested in helping Catholics develop a more 
meaningful relationship with Israel and shared society proj-
ects in Israel. The luncheon was indeed a conversation that 
both parties commit to continuing. 

JCRC/AJC

JCRC/AJC Executive Director 
Rabbi Asher Lopatin with 
Archbishop Allen Vigneron

Have You Adopted a Family Yet?
Be part of Jewish Family Service’s Adopt a Family program and 
you can bring light and joy to those served by the organization. 
Participation is simple. Shop from an individual or family’s per-
sonal wish list, donate gift cards or make a monetary donation 
to the program. However you choose to participate, you will be 
brightening the holidays for so many. Thanks to the generosity of 
our community, 830 people were able to enjoy a happy holiday 
last year.
Jewish Family Service is once again partnering with Toyology. 
Simply mention JFS when shopping at any of their locations 
during the holidays and 20% of your purchases will benefit 
the Adopt a Family program. Check out the store’s selection at 
ToyologyToys.com. For more information about Adopt a Family, 
visit JFS Detroit.org. 

JFS

A photo from a 
prior year’s Adopt 
a Family drive.